The Coast Guard Act of 1915 established the U.S. Coast guard as a new service. The coast guard has the responsibility of protecting American Coastal cities and water from hostile attack. This Act also authorized the coast guard to stop, search, and arrest suspected smugglers and other unlawful intruders into American waters.

The coast guard in U.S. was established under U.S. Department of Treasury, but was later transferred to the Navy Department during World War I.